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Making a Difference in Living

“As someone who grew up in the substandard conditions that plague urban areas across the United States, I knew that I wanted to use my education to change that situation and I still work towards that goal today,” says architecture and urban studies major Josh Tomey.

Combining what he has learned in class with his life experiences, Josh wants to help others by addressing the challenges he faced. “I want to design, build, and get things done,” he says. “I want to make a difference in the lives of others within my community.”

When he studied abroad in Oaxaca, Mexico, Josh helped redesign a public plaza in a way that would benefit all income levels, meet the city’s needs, and encourage community involvement. Back in the Twin Cities, he interned with Metro Transit and participated in a commercial real estate development competition sponsored by the NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association.

Josh will begin graduate school to becoming a practicing architect. His long term goal will be to work in real estate development with a focus on affordable housing.